U.S. Air Force Maj. Zach “Badger” Overbey, Operation Christmas Drop 2023 (OCD 23) mission commander and pilot, steps out of a C-130J Super Hercules assigned to the 36th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron prior to the first flight of OCD 23 at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, Dec. 3, 2023. OCD is the Department of Defense’s longest-running humanitarian airlift operation. The tradition began during the Christmas season in 1952 when a B-29 Superfortress aircrew saw islanders waving at them from the island of Kapingamarangi, 3,500 miles southwest of Hawaii. In the spirit of Christmas, the aircrew dropped a bundle of supplies attached to a parachute to the islanders below, giving the operation its name. Today, airdrop operations include more than 50 islands throughout the Pacific. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Taylor Altier)
Date Taken: | 12.03.2023 |
Date Posted: | 12.03.2023 23:42 |
Photo ID: | 8148981 |
VIRIN: | 231203-F-RU502-1113 |
Resolution: | 6048x4024 |
Size: | 10.08 MB |
Location: | ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, GU |
Web Views: | 79 |
Downloads: | 5 |
This work, Merry Christmas, from Ray Overbey [Image 12 of 12], by TSgt Taylor Altier, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.